yet, it would be every way wonderful, I own, if even all the circumstances should lead to the conclusion: if you take it to apostolic times, it might be effected, as it were instantaneously, because such conversions did happen to nations who were extremely ignorant, and to people almost as much cut off from civil society. This was effected by the triple aid of knowing the mind, speaking unknown tongues, and miracles.

Opposite to the much-to-be-pitied heathen islanders of ancient or modern times, is the condition of the people born in a Christian country. They cannot think or speak, or act scarcely with rectitude, without being beholden to revelation, to their Bible for it, yet they are unconscious of this, not dreaming, that if all we、 have acquired from revelation was taken away, we should be little better than uncivilized barbarians, to speak in the language of antiquity.

Yet, after all these allowances, it must be owned that the gene rality of mankind, even here, have great difficulties to struggle with to obtain a full meaning of the Scriptures. The nations of antiquity, their situation, their history, particularly the Hebrew. The customs, manners, and such a variety of circumstances, the natural productions of the countries, with so long an etcetera, that there is scarcely a possibility of enumerating them.

Let the wise, therefore, pity the ignorant, but never upbraid them; let the pious strive to win, but never to hurl vengeance against the brother who offends not, who disbelieves, not perhaps so much from a bad heart as a careless mind; but let the person who gives himself into such freedom of speech in ridiculing religion, reflect, that it is both indecent and foolish to deride what he has not even attempted, or but very superficially attempted, to understand, that if this arises from ignorance, how much will he be ashamed, if he should ever know better; let him consider, that if a wise and well-informed man hears him, he may be to him an object of pity; and will also of contempt and scorn, if he is profane; let such reflect, that they never have the approbation of good men, and that bad men do not respect them, and that, if they did, such respect would be disgraceful. But, above all, let them reflect that as studious men, who have no end of their own to answer, do believe, it should raise some modest diffidence, at least in their minds, because if they should be mistaken they en

danger alike their own, and their neighbour's highest welfare, both here and hereafter.

A sincere Christian from conviction, would not knowingly wound the feelings of any one. The only weapons of a disciple of Jesus Christ is persuasion, and the greatest recommendation to his faith is an innocent life. So far from religion souring the mind, as it debars us from no lawful pleasure, it greatly tends to make men chearful; gloom and despondency accompany superstition and fanaticism, but never genuine, vital christianity.

Let all ever avoid infidelity, but if it should be unfortunately the fate of some not to believe, let them never be profane, much less blasphemers, for these can never profit. Let the Christian pity those who are deficient in faith, and never be a persecuting bigot to those who differ, however widely from him. God made both, but neither of them judges to condemn for sentiments, which are not followed by actions that are detrimental to society; and he that believes, as well as he who is an infidel, are alike amenable to the laws of their country. Let each, then, regard the other as a brother, who in one point cannot agree-much more the Christian of the Establishment, with the Christian who is not within the pale of the national church, for theirs is often more a war of words than of things.

Lest you should say that I love preaching out of the church, which I do not, I shall hasten to tell you that I am most truly, Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

Barming Parsonage, 1807.

MARK NOBLE.

REASONS AGAINST MARRIAGE.

MR. EDITOR;

YOUR Correspondent "Clericus" (in No: 20 of your Mirror, page 71.) says he is "greatly hurt to see so many unmarried persons;" so am I too, Mr. Editor, that "there must be something radically wrong in that affair." The reason appears to me to want very little explanation; in the first place, then, this country is so burthened with taxes, that a mechanic, having his hundred or two hundred pounds a-year, cannot support a wife'

(and children, I may say) when the national deductions are made; therefore, he thinks

"The man who milk can buy,

« Should never keep a cow."

In the next place, if a lady or gentleman possesses a small independency, the parents think it quite out of the question to bestow their hands on their inferiors in fortune, but don't mind throwing away their hearts on persons they detest. I think all people are capable of choosing bed-fellows for themselves. Therefore I would advise those who go to the sacred altar of Hymen, to speak their minds freely, and answer" I will," or "I will not," just as they feel they like or they like not. It is owing to these forced marriages that we have so many crim. con. cases, to the disgrace of the nation.

ut of an itching humour, that man hath to shew himself, he will write, no matter what, and scrape together, it bootes not whence. Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy.

MR. EDITOR, As a native of HoG'S NORTON," a village replete with local interest," I eagerly seized the lately published volume of "The Beauties of England and Wales," hoping to find an account of my favourite spot; but, alas! so partial and coquettish are topogra phers, no particulars, no, Mr. Editor, not a word does the volume contain on the subject! Judge, sir, of my disappointment and wonder! Me non tantùm admiratio habet, as Maximus Tyrius saith, sed etiam stupor.

In turning over the introduction, hoping to find some apology for the omission, I was, however, directed to an account of Robert Burton, author of the Anatomy of Melancholy, as " containing some Original Remarks and Criticisms;" the which I shall enjoy the more, when some of your correspondents have kindly explained them.

It is said, when Bishop Heaton had preached before our pacific monarch, James the First, the pedantic prince complimented the prelate in these terms; "Fat men for the most part make lean sermons; yours are not lean, but well larded with learning," Those who are really acquainted with Burton's curious volume, are well aware that the "ryghte merrie and conceitede" tome of Democritus junior, is composed after the fashion of Bishop Heaton's Discourse. Mr. Britton, by way of an "original res "mark," tells us that

"Burton's work appears to be a local satire on the pedantry of the times."-

How is this shewn? Why,

"It was then customary for all writers and speakers, to embellish, or rather diversify, their language by quotations from va rious authors*."

Now, as the Laureat Skelton says of Cardinal Wolsey,

"Is not my reason good?"

I am no logician myself, Mr. Editor, nor are any of the Higgins family, but I agree with Holofernes, that "the gift is good in whom it is acute, and the topographer is thankful for it;” at least I hope so.

Mr. Britton quotes an account of the author, "written," as he says, " by one who appears to be rather partial;" then follows an "original criticism on the Anatomy," from a ponderous almsbasket of gleanings ycleped The Lounger's Common-Place Book, in which it is characterized as " verbose pedantry, dull commonplace, crude fancies," with many other equally novel and discri minative epithets; and this criticism, says the biographer, "in my estimation, is perfectly just."-484.)

It is not for a writer of essays, and a weaver of sonnets, to measure lances, Mr. Editor, with "original critics," who, to use the words of Scaliger, have written books bigger than cheeses: qui scripserunt libros majores quàm caseis: and to call the spirits of Johnson, Warton and Steevens, from " the vasty deep" to confront them, were to summon the ghosts of those whom Mr. Britton and the Lounger have already sent to the shades. No: Down among the dead men, there let 'em lie;

and let us proceed.

Beautics of England and Wales, Vol. ix. 498,

"The work that tended to excite some enquiry after the Anatomy of Melancholy, and give it some temporary notoriety, was intituled, Illustrations of Sterne.' In this work Dr. Ferriar endeavours to prove, that our witty and highly satirical divine was indebted to Burton for his eccentric style, &c. and therefore accuses him of plagiarism. On comparing the writings of the two, there will be found but very few similitudes *.”

To decide at random, and without examination, is seldom safe, even in matters of" original criticism ;" and to speak by guess in matters of fact, is still less prudent. The truth is, Mr. Editor, Mr. Britton has not read the " Illustrations of Sterne," any time these thirty years, or he would have known that it is not from similar" eccentricities of style, &c." that Dr. Ferriar accuses Sterne of plagiarism; but from an exhibition of numerous pas sages of considerable length, which have been conveyed

("convey the wise it call"-.-)

into Tristram Shandy and The Sentimental Journey, without any acknowledgement, and sometimes without the alteration of single word. The following passage from Robert Burton, I recommend as a motto for the succeeding volumes of" The Beauties of England and Wales," and "The Lounger's Common-Place Book:" * "As apothecaries we make new mixtures every day, pour out of one vessel into another, skim the cream of other men's wits, pick the choice flowers of their tilled gardens, to set out our own sterile plots: We weave the same web still, twist the same rope again and again.”

Introduction to the Anat. of Melancholy, page 7 ; fol. 1632. Now for Tristram Shandy.

"Shall we for-ever make new books, as apothecaries make new mixtures, by pouring only out of one vessel into another? Are we to be for ever twisting and untwisting the same rope? forever in the same track-for ever at the same pace ?"-One more example; and it shall be one of the shortest :

"Tis an inevitable chance, the first statute of Magna Charta, an everlasting act of parliament, all must die."

Anatomy of Melancholy. ""Tis an inevitable chance the first statute in Magna Charta it is an everlasting act of parliament, my dear brother-all must die!"

Tristram Shandy

* Beauties of England and Wales, Vol. ix. 484.

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